Chinese hackers suspected of interfering with US satellites

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Chinese hackers are suspected of having interfered with the operation of two US government satellites on four occasions via a ground station, according to a report being prepared for the US Congress.

According to Bloomberg, the draft of a new annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Commission includes the claim that in October 2007 and July 2008 hackers used the connection from a ground station to affect the operation of the Landsat 7 and Terra (EOS AM-1) satellites, which are used for earth observation. The allegation was made by the US air force in a closed briefing.

The commission is concerned that the hack might have been carried out by Chinese government-sponsored hackers trying to found out how vulnerable the satellite control systems were to cyber-attack.

The report, which is due to be released next month, warns: "Access to a satellite's controls could allow an attacker to damage or destroy the satellite. An attacker could also deny or degrade as well as forge or otherwise manipulate the satellite's transmission."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/27/chinese-hacking-us-satellites-suspected

[State the Obvious]

1. Is the US awake....or asleep....on this one?

.......seems like we should be paying attention.

[Auggie]

3. I suspect they're very awake

Perhaps making noise might underscore how fragile security is and invite other hackers to take aim.

[State the Obvious]

4. Oops.....

:blush: .....got it.

[ragemage]

2. Sounds like NASA needs to check its network security

Why oh why did NASA have this ground station open to the internet? Sounds like they did not follow proper procedures for securing the link between the ground station and NASA facilities. Need to learn the "least privilege" rule...

[Left Coast2020]

5. But additionally, they need to take some action say....

....ban sales of American stuff that can be copied by Chinese. Or say start with some severe trade restrictions. Perhaps some tariffs thrown in too. China is just a copy and paste society ya know. Screw this slap on the wrist crap. Enough is enough.

[valerief]

6. Isn't the US and China the same entity now? At least as far as multinationals are concerned?

They're the only persons who (that?) matter now.

[1monster]

7. Well, what did they expect when they contracted China for componets and other

things for the satellites? If they wanted secrecy, they should have made all parts "Made In The USA!"

[willhe]

8. hmmm i wish i knew how lol

they would do the world justice if they knock out fox satellites. backyard star wars anyone?

[soryang]

9. Oh boy! Time for more defense spending!

Won't that be just ducky.

[Muskypundit]

10. Weird but expected response

To another country attacking the few things that keeps us in the 21st century. To me this is nuclear warfare; if they dropped our satellites millions would die in the U.S in the first month. And we couldn't do anything about it. That is what defense spending should focus on.

[soryang]

11. Which country is doing the attacking?